Beauty is painful. And it’s a waiting game! You can’t grow out your hair overnight to fix DIY bangs that you just experimented with. You can’t fix your eyebrows by tomorrow if your salon lady ruined the shape for you today. You cannot get rid of the breakout in an hour for the party even if you use a pimple patch. Similarly, you can’t grow your nails overnight or cannot regrow them in a few days after some trauma or injury. It takes time. How much? Let’s see.
Many of you might wonder how long it takes for your nails to grow and regrow. The simple answer is, that there is no fixed duration to this. No one can tell you exactly when your nails will grow out, not even your doctor. The reason is simple. Nails are skin cells and they take their rejuvenation time before they can grow out properly and completely.
How Long Does It Take for Nails to Grow Naturally?
Today, we are here to guide you in detail on how long it takes for your nails to grow and how can you speed up the process.
Nail growth is an extremely slow process. According to medical research, fingernails grow at an average of 3 mm per month while toenails grow at an average of just 1 mm per month! You can imagine this to be much smaller than the size of a short rice grain which is about 5.5 mm long on average. So now you can understand how slow and steady is the speed.
You cannot be impatient or rush the process especially if you have a traumatised nail! No, we are not talking about the mental state of your nails (they don’t have one!). if you have a habit of biting your nails or if your nails have been ruined due to an injury or trauma, then the speed of the regrowth will vary and the quality of the nail will also be affected.
Nails can grow out chipped or misshapen and can even be paper-thin if you have had a nail injury or a fungal infection. In that case, it will take even more time, care, and patience for the nail to go back to its normal nature and speed of growth.
Also, if you have lost a nail completely due to any reason, you can expect a fingernail to take around 6 months and a toenail more than a year to regrow! And, you need to be careful and gentle with your nails during this duration, especially when it’s a toenail.
What Factors Affect Nail Growth?
Though nail growth is a natural phenomenon and you can’t do much to speed up the process, certain internal and external factors contribute to the rate at which a nail grows:
1) Nails grow slower with age. The rate and speed at which your nails grow reduces as you age. After 25, the growth rate reduces by 0.5% per year, according to research.
2) As surprising as it may be, the time of the day and year also impact the speed of your nail growth. Nails tend to grow faster during the day opposing the belief that nails and hair grow at night. The growth is also faster during Summer as compared to colder weather conditions.
3) Another amazing fact is the nails on your dominant hand grow faster. This means you will have longer nails on your right hand if that is your dominant hand. Whereas left-handers experience quicker growth on their left hand as compared to the right. However, this difference isn’t visible to the naked eye.
4) Your hormones also affect the rate of nail growth. The rate fluctuates highly during the tumultuous time for your hormone levels. For example, it is observed to peak during puberty or pregnancy while declining during lactation or as your hormone levels balance out with age.
5) Certain chronic conditions and your overall health are also key factors affecting your nail growth. Conditions like diabetes, psoriasis, thyroid disease, etc. have an impact on the overall shape, appearance, and growth of your nails. Besides, nail-biting also has an impact on your nail growth.
How Long Does it Take for Fingernails to Grow Back after an Injury?
In case of any trauma, injury, or infection, it is possible that you can lose an entire fingernail from your nail surface. Or, if you happen to damage your nail root which is the ‘matrix’, you may even find a deformed nail as it grows back.
But the good part is, that it will grow back if you give it the essential time, care, and patience. Even if the entire nail gets detached from your finger, it does grow back. But how long does it take? Well, for an adult, fingernails grow at the average rate of 1/10th of an inch per month. At this speed, it will take around 6 months or even more for your fingernail to grow back to its original size.
If you have damaged the nail matrix by any chance, you will see the new growth also to be crooked or misshapen. So it takes even more time for the nail root to heal and grow out a normal nail in the correct structure. In case of serious injuries or infections, you need to consult a doctor and receive proper treatment.
How Long Does it Take for Toenails to Grow Back after a Trauma?
Contrary to fingernails, toenails also take even more time to grow back if you lose one to an injury or infection. And when we say ‘long time’ it can vary from months to even years depending on the reason for trauma. On average, it takes around 12 to 18 months for a toenail to grow back after a trauma.
The regrowth timeline varies for different scenarios:
- after trauma, it takes 6 months to 2 years
- after psoriasis, it takes 6 months or more
- if it is a fungal nail infection or a black toenail, it takes 12 to 18 months
- if it is removed medically due to some reason, it takes up to 18 months
How to Make Your Nails Grow Faster
No doubt, you cannot grow your nails “faster” because there is no way you can accelerate the progress externally; nails grow naturally and are influenced by certain internal and external factors. So, it is not in your hands. But what can you do to improve the overall health of your natural nails?
1) You can look after your nutrition and eating habits to provide strength to your nails internally. The consumption of certain superfoods helps maintain your nail health and prevent chipping or brittleness.
2) If you have thin or brittle nails and want to give them some support externally, you can try using formaldehyde-free nail strengthening polishes. These nail hardneres are also useful for those who indulge in frequent wear of salon nail enhancements and press-on nails. They add a layer of strength to your nail surface preventing chipping and breakage.
3) Also maintain discipline in grooming and hygiene. Keep your hands and feet clean and dry at all times and avoid toxic nail polishes. Indulge in frequent DIY or salon manicures to keep your fingernails and toenails properly clipped and filed. Keep your cuticles pushed back or trimmed, too, and keep your fingers and toes moisturized.
The Bottom Line
Understanding the journey of nail growth provides insight into the patience and care required for healthy nails. While the exact time for a nail to grow back varies, typically taking about six months for a new nail to fully replace an old one, nurturing your nails with proper care can expedite this process. Remember, your nails reflect your overall health, so treat them with the kindness and attention they deserve. Whether you’re recovering from a nail injury or simply curious about the magic of nail growth, embrace the natural rhythm of your nails and watch them flourish, one growth cycle at a time.